Musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus for conveniently oiling a plurality of musical instrument valves, each, in a preferred form, including a valve casing and valve cap and a movable valve plunger mounted within the valve casing and connected to a valve-operating member which extends to a fingeraccessible position exterior of the valve casing and valve cap for digital operation. The valve oiling apparatus is mounted at a position conveniently accessible by the fingers or thumb of a musician holding the instrument so that the valve-oiling operation can be performed (usually by the other hand of the musician manually holding an operating and oil dispenser), thus making it possible to oil the multiple valve between playing periods, or between sequential musical passages to be played by the instrument or otherwise during the playing of the instrument or at times when the valves are in need of lubrication and without the necessity of disassembling any of the valves as has been required in the past.

Apr. 10, 1973 United States Patent 1 Cortez ABSTRACT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT VALVE- OILING APPARATUS A musical instrument valveveniently oiling a pluralit oiling apparatus for con- Cortez, c/o D. Wri Wells Park Road 01566 y of musical instrument d form, including a valve valves, each, in a preferre casing and valve cap and a movable valve plunger [22] Filed:

m n m d g ma n om m mn m X g .mm an mounted within the valve c valve-operating member wh May 5, 1972 cessible position exterior of the valve casing and valve 21 Appl.

holding an operating and oil dispenser), thus making it e .m m m H mm a WP bd C i v m a m 3 kn .m m q y en he e lw ma b 3 ms d mb Sr 08 PD. M i C m m r m R l 6 5 played by the instrument or otherwise during the play- UNITED STATES PATENTS or at times when the valves are and without the necessity of dising of the instrument in'need of lubrication 2,51 L255 6/l950 George..................... ....84/392 assembling any of the valves as has been required in the past.

Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant E.taminerJohn F. Gonzales 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUAPR 1 0 1 3,726,173

sum 2 or 2 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT VALVE-OILING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the present invention comprises a musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus having an oil-receiving container means provided with a filling port (usually at the top thereof) and cover means normally closing and covering the filling port means, with 1 said cover means having digital-member-engageable operating means effectively coupled with respect thereto for controllable digital operation whenever it is desired to lubricate the valves of an associated musical instrument by temporarily moving the cover means away from the filling port meansso as to temporarily open same for the reception of a desired quantity of lubricating oil thereinto from a manually held and operated oil dispenser. The oil-receiving container means is provided with communication duct means extending therefrom in a gravity-flow manner to musical instrument valve means (usually to a plurality of such musical instrument valve means) for interior lubricating communication therewith. In one preferred form, the communication duct means referred to above comprises a plurality of individual communication duct members or portions corresponding in number to the number of musical instrument valves to be lubricated and extending to and through the corresponding exterior casing means of a corresponding one of a plurality of musical instrument valve means into interior lubricating communication with the interior of said casing means and the exterior of a corresponding digitally operable plunger means slidably positioned within the casing means of each of said musical instrument valve means.

In one preferred form, the cover means is provided with biasing means normally biasing the cover means into closed relationship with respect to the filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means so that the oil-receiving container means will be closed at all times except when temporarily digitally operated into open position to allow a desired quantity of lubricating oil to be manually dispensed into the oil-receiving container means.

In one preferred form, the operating member extends outwardly away from an assembly of musical instrument valve means of a musical instrument mounting the entire valve-oiling apparatus so that said operating member may be projecting into a convenient digitally accessible position for operation by a musicians hand normally adapted to grasp hold of and support the musical instrument whereby to provide for temporary filling-port-opening operation of the cover means by said grasping, holding, and supporting hand whenever desired.

In oneform of the invention, the outwardly extending operating member may project forwardly away from the assembly of musical instrument valve means for such convenient operation at said location by the thumb or a finger of the musicianhand normally positioned adjacent thereto, while in another form of the invention, said operating member may extend rearwardly away from the assembly of musical instrument valve means for a slightly different form of operation by the musician. The location of the oil-receiving container means and the operating member may be forwardly of the assembly of musical instrument valve means, rearwardly thereof, above the level of the musical instrument valve means or at any other conveniently digitally accessible location suitable for providing proper gravity flow of lubricating oil to the musical instrument valves while also positioning the 0 operating member at a convenient location for digital BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In conventional prior art musical instruments of a valved type,.such as trumpets, tubas, and the like, it is frequently necessary to lubricate the musical instrument valves in order to provide for optimum performance and also to prevent the valve plungers and valve casings carrying same from being damaged as a result of inadequate lubrication. This type of valve-oiling operation may be required several times during the course of an extended period of playing of the instrument and, if it is not done, the instrument may be damaged and will not operate efficiently. This is extremely important for professional musicians who may play for long periods of time, thus requiring frequent valve lubrication, and also for students and other persons who may not be too concerned about the possibility of damaging an expensive musical instrument as a result of inadequate valve lubrication. This is particularly important during the break-in period.

Despite the importance of valve lubrication mentioned above, the conventional prior art construction of such valved musical instruments has been such that the valve-oiling operation is not easy to perform, thus greatly increasing the likelihood that it may not be done as frequently as it should be. This is so because the conventional method of oiling prior art valved musical instruments is to unscrew the valve cap conventionally threadedly carried by a valve casing so that oil may be placed directly into the interior of the casing ing. Either way is a tiresome and time-consuming operation and, thus, there is a tendency for even the professional musician to not perform the valve-oiling operation as often as would be optimum and, in the case of a person such as a student or other person who is not too aware of the cost of such musical instruments, particularly if it is temporarily loaned to him, the valveoiling operation may not be performed at all or very infrequently because of the difficulty of doing so. This may lead to very poor operation of the musical instrument and to scoring or other damage to the interior of the casing means or the exterior of the plunger means or both. It is precisely this prior art musical instrument valve-oiling problem which the advantageous musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus of the present invention substantially completely overcomes by reason of the novel structure thereof as generally defined hereinbefore and as detailed hereinafter.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus for oiling one or more (usually a plurality of) musical instrument valves in a very simple manner capable of being performed by a musician without any need to disassemble or dismantle the musical instrument valves in the conventional prior art manner and without the necessity of moving his hands in any very substantial way beyond the movements involved in holding and playing the instrument since the hand that normally holds the instrument during the playing thereof may open the apparatus for a valve-oiling operation without becoming completely disengaged from'the instrument (in other words, while the instrument is still being held by said hand) and the other hand (the one normally operating the musical instrument valves during the playing thereof) may temporarily move a lubricating oil dispenser into dispensing relationship with respect to the temporarily openvalve-oiling apparatus to dispense a desired quantity of lubricating oil thereinto, after which said hand may be disengaged from the oil-dispensing can and is immediately available for playing the instrument. Thus, it will be seen that the valve-oiling operation can be performed with a minimum of hand movements and time to such an extent that it need hardly interrupt the actual playing of the instrument.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus of the character referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and which may include any or all of the features referred to herein, either individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive, easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-mount construction such as to be suitable for ready mass manufacture and distribution as original equipment on a musical instrument or as a separate item to be subsequently mounted thereon, at a very low cost per unit, both as to initial capital cost (including production set-up cost, etc.) and as to subsequent per-unit manufacturing cost, whereby to be conducive to widespread production, distribution, sale, and use of the invention for the purposes outlined herein, or for any substantially equivalent or similar purposes.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the hereinbelowdescribed figures of the accompanying two sheets of drawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. I is a reduced-size, perspective view illustrating one exemplary form of the musical instrument valveoiling apparatus of the present invention wherein it is shown mounted in one particular relationship to the assembly of three valves of a musical instrument comprising a trumpet which is shown for exemplary purposes only and is not to be construed as specifically limiting the invention. In this view, the hand ofa musician holding the trumpet is shown in a very slightly partially displaced manner from its normal position so as to be capable of very readily operating the valve-oiling apparatus which is shown in actual valve-oiling usage in FIG. 1 it being understood that the valve-oiling operation is temporary and takes merely'a moment to perform, after which the valve-oiling apparatus is returned -to a normal, closed position and the instrument may be immediately played. 7

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, side elevational view of just the central portion of the trumpet of FIG. 1 as seen from the far side thereof and showing in side elevation the complete valve-oiling apparatus with visually obscuring portions of the trumpet broken away for the purpose of maximizing the clarity of the disclosure provided by FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view ofjust the oil receiving container means of the apparatus of FIG. 3 shown at the middle of the left side thereof in FIG. 3, but with the cover means in a temporarily open position such as is shown in FIG. 1 rather than closed as shown in FIG. 3. This view also shows a representative one of the three musical instrument valve means (valve 3) adapted to be lubricated by the exemplary apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary, partiall broken away view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 66 of FIG. 2 and with all exterior portions of the musical instrument below the plane of the view, except of course the cross-sectioned valve means, being removed 1 for reasons of drawing simplification and clarity.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a representative one of the three exemplary musical instrument valve means of the first form of the invention taken along the staggered plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 77 of FIG. 6 and illustrates the interior of a representative one of said valve means and the communication therewith of the corresponding communication duct means portion of the novel valve-oiling apparatus of the present invention and is representative of the other two similar structures shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of just the valve-oiling apparatus, per se, as seen from a position similar to the showing of FIG. 2 and is intended to illustrate such apparatus which may be independently provided for mounting on a musical instrument subsequent to the manufacture thereof and not necessarily as a part of the original musical instrument when originally manufactured and sold.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2, although drawn to a somewhat larger scale, and illustrates a slight modification of the invention wherein the oil-receiving container means is positioned at the opposite end of the assembly of musical instrument valves from the exemplary first form of the invention and wherein the operating member for controllably and temporarily opening the cover of the oil-receiving container means in a manner similar to the showing of FIGS. 1, 4, and in connection with-the first form. of the invention, projects or extends in the opposite direction from the operating member of thefirst form of the invention. 7

FIG. 10 is another view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrating a further slight modification of the invention wherein the oil-receiving container means is positioned at a more or less intermediate location and above the level of the assembly of musical instrument valve means and wherein the operating member is shown as being extended in the same direction as the FIG. 9 modification, although it may also be extended in the direction of the first form of the, invention or in any other convenient, digitally accessible direction or position.

The musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus of the present invention may be provided at the time of original manufacture of a musical instrument or may be provided as a separate unit to be placed in operative association with a pre-existing musical instrument. For purposes of clarity, the entire valve-oiling apparatus, considered per se, is shown without the musical instrument in FIG. 8 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 20. However, since it is only useful in operative association with a musical instrument, it is shown in FIGS. 1-7 in association with a representative valved musical instrument which takes the form of a trumpet generally designated by the reference numeral 22. It of course should be understood that the invention is not limited to use with a trumpet, but may be similarly mounted in operative association with the valve assembly of any musical instrument having one or more valve means, and the illustration of the invention in association with the trumpet 22 is exemplary only and is not to be construed in any limiting manner.

In the exemplary first form illustrated, the musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus includes an oilreceiving container means 24 which is shown as comprising a downwardly converging, effectively downwardly and inwardly hollow housing means 26 which is provided with a filling port and a cover means normally closing and coveringsaid filling port. In the exemplary first form illustrated, the filling port comprises a top opening 28 and the cover means comprises a closure cap 30 shaped and sized so as to be suitable for completely covering and effectively sealing the filling port 28 when closed.

In the exemplary first form illustrated, the cover means 30 comprises an outer cup-shaped cap member 32 which may be made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material and which carries a soft, compressible, inner liner or sealing gasket 34 so that when the cover means30 is closed, the gasket 34 will sealingly engage the edge of the housing means 26 defining the filling port 28 so that any lubricating oil, such as that shown at.36 in FIG. 5, for example, or any remnants or drops thereof left after the completion of a valve lubricating operation such as shown in FIG. 1, cannot escape from the container 24 through the filling port In the example illustrated, the cover means 30 is provided with biasing means adapted to normally bias the cover means 30 into closed, sealed relationship with respect to the filling port means 28 in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of an operating means or member coupled to the cover means 30. In the example illustrated, said operating means comprises the extension 38, which is shown as being operated by the thumb 40 of the hand 42 of a musician which is carrying and supporting the entire trumpet 22.

The biasing means referred to generally above, in the example illustrated, comprises a torsional biasing spring 44 effectively wrapped around the axis of the hinge means 46 which pivotally attaches the entire cover means 30 relative to one edge of the filling port 28 and with said torsional spring means 44 having opposite ends thereof abutting the top of the cap member 30 and the exterior of a side wall portion of the housing 26 so as to normally forcibly bias the cover means 30 into the closed and sealed relationship clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The bottom of the oil-receiving container means 24 is provided with communication duct means, such as generally designated at 48, extending therefrom, in a gravity-flow manner in the first example illustrated, to a plurality of musical instrument valve means, such as the assembly thereof generally designated by the reference numeral 50, for interior lubricating communication with said musical instrument valve means so that the dispensing of lubricating oil into the temporarily open oil-receiving container means 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 will result in lubricating oil being fed through the communication duct means 48 and through a corresponding hole 52 in the casing side wall 54 of each of the musical instrument valve means generally designated at 50 so as to lubricate the interior of the casing 54 and the exterior of the slidably mounted plunger 56 so that subsequent operation of the plunger by means. of the valve-operating member, indicated generally at 58 and comprising the stem 60 and the operating button 62, will disseminate the lubricating oil over all sliding surfaces so as to completely lubricate and protect same from damage.

In the example illustrated, the operating member stem 60 extends through a slidable bearing aperture 64 in a threaded cap member 66 which is threadedly engaged on the upper end of the casing 54, as indicated at 68. However, the invention is not limited to any particular type of musical instrument valve construction and may be employed for providing proper lubrication for virtually any type of musical instrument valve, and all such are intended to beincluded and comprehended by the representative disclosure of the drawings and specification and to be within the scope of the present invention and application.

In the example illustrated, the communication duct means, generally indicated at 48, comprises a plurality of individual communication duct members, each of which is designated by the reference numeral 70 and each of which has an inlet end opening 72 positioned in the bottom of the hollow housing 26 of the oil-receiving container 24, with the rest of each of the three individual communication duct means 70 extending longitudinally and in closely adjacent relationship to a position immediately exterior of a corresponding out side portion of the casing 54 of the corresponding one of the three musical instrument valve means 50 and doing so in a manner such as to provide the proper clearance for the positioning of the hand 42 of a musician in its normal musical instrument grasping, holding, and supporting position as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the entire container means 24 and all portions of the communication duct mean's'48 are positioned relatively high up with respect to the assembly of musical instrument valves 50 and quite close to the exterior of the casing side walls 54 thereof and then extend downwardly to the inner outflow ends 74 thereof at locations, which are shown as being slightly rearwardly displaced from direct side positions, where said outflow ends 74 are effectively caused to engage, penetrate, and pass through the corresponding three musical instrument valve casing side walls 54 into communication with the interiors of said three musical instrument valves 50. This arrangement of the offset-connected outlet ends 74 of each of the three communication duct means 70 relative to each of the three musical instrument valves 50 is clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6 and is shown drawn to a slightly larger scale with respect to the forward one of the three musical instrument valves 50 only, in FIG. 4, and provides for maximum hand space or clearance for the musicians instrument holding hand 42, as shown in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that each of the outflow or outlet ends 74 of each of the communication duct means 70 is positioned at alower level thanthe corresponding one of the three inlets 72 connected to the oil-receiving container means 24, thus causing lubricating oil, such asshown at 36 in FIG. 5, to be fed in a gravity-flow manner into the interior of each of the musical instrument valves 50 immediately aftera valve-oiling operation, such as'is shown in the process of being conducted in FIG. 1, is completed and the cover means 30 is returned to its normal, closed, sealed relationship. This may be facilitated to some extent, if desired, by tilting the musical instrument so that the front end thereof is somewhat higher than the rear end thereof, which will enhance the gravity-flowof oil into the interior of each of the musical instrument valve means 50. The digital depressing of each of the operating .buttons 62 will thoroughly disseminate the lubricating oil within each of the valve means 50.

It should be noted that an oil-containing dispenser means, such as the plastic or metal oil can 76, can normally be positioned at some convenient location adjacent to a musician so that whenever he feels that it is desirable to oil the valves 50 of the musical instrument 22, he can use his other hand, such as is indicated at 78 in FIG. 1, for picking up the oil-dispensing can 76 for dispensing a desired quantity of oil 36 into the oilreceiving container means.24 while the cover means 30 istemporarily held openby the thumb 40 of the musicians other instrument-holding hand 42 in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 1. This only takes a moment and, as soon as a small quantity of oil has been dispensed into the container 24, the oil-dispensing can 76 is returned to its original location and the cover means 30 is allowed to return to its normal, closed, sealed relationship. This completes the valve-oiling operation except for the possible tilting of the instrument and workoperating member 38 extends forwardly from its pivotal connection to the oil'receiviiig container 24, which itself is positioned adjacent to and immediately forward of the upper ends of the assembly of three musical instrument valves 50. This mounting may be achieved in any suitable manner through the use of auxiliary mounting struts or connections attached to any suitable adjacent portion of the musical instrument 22 or the valve-oiling assembly may be silver-soldered or mechanically attached to the exterior of the upper end of the casing member of the front one of the three musical instrument valves 50, or otherwise attached at the desired upper forward location where it is out of the way of the musicians hand 42 and yet is conveniently accessible for opening and closing of the cover means 30 immediately before and after a temporary, momentary, lubricating operation of the type illustrated in FIG. 1.

The three valve casings 54 may be drilled for the sealed reception and, in certain preferred forms, silversoldered attachment of the corresponding ends of each strument 22 is originally manufactured or may be done subsequently long after the musical instrument 22 has been manufactured and sold. In the latter case, the valve-oiling assembly 20 may be independently and separately purchased and subsequently mounted and attached to the musical instrument. Such a separate valve-oiling assembly 20 is illustrated in FIG. 8, which is intended to illustrate such a valve-oiling assembly, per se, whether part of the original musical instrument or separately acquired and attached subsequent to the manufacture and distribution of the musical instrument itself. a

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG.'2 and il lustrates the same type ofmusical' instrument, but with the valve-oiling assembly oppositely positioned, in this case at the rear of the assembly of musical instrument valves and generally similarly connected to each of the valves. Because this view is a slight modification, parts which are similar structurally and/or'functionally to corresponding parts of the first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter a, however.

ln the FIG. 9 modification, it should be noted that the oil-receiving container 24a is positioned at the rear of the assembly of musical instrument valves shown fragmentarily at 50a and, thus, the communication duct members a extend forwardly from the oilreceiving container means 24a to and through entry locations on the side wall casing members 54a of the three musical instrument valves in a manner functionally similar to the corresponding connections of the three communication duct members 70 of the first form of the invention to the corresponding casing side walls 54 of the three musical instrument valves 50 of the first form of the invention.

In the FIG. 9 modification, the operating member 38a is oppositely directed from the operating member of the firstform of the invention. In other words, it is rearwardly directed rather than forwardly directed. However, this is exemplary only and is not intended to specifically so limit the invention. Otherwise, the FIG. 9 modification is quite similar to the previously described first form of the invention and, therefore, no further detailed description thereof is thought necessary or desirable.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further slight modification of the invention wherein the only change is in the positioning of the oil-receiving container means and, correspondingly, a slightly different orientation of the communication duct means. However, since it does show a slight variation, parts which are structurally or functionally similar to corresponding parts of previously described forms of the invention are indicated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter b," however.

In the FIG. 10 modification, it should be noted that the oil-receiving container means, indicated generally at 24b, is positioned neither in front of nor behind the assembly of musical instrument valves as illustrated in the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. l 7 inclusive and the second form thereof illustrated in FIG. 9, but instead is positioned at a relatively intermediate upper location with respect to the assembly of three musical instrument valve means, indicated generally at 50b, and, thus, the three communication duct members 70b are correspondingly differently positioned and directed so as to properly connect to the casing side wall portions 54b of the three musical instrument valves 50b. In the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 10, the operating member 38b is rearwardly directed in the manner of the operating member 38a of the FIG. 9 modification. However, it is not limited to this orientation and, if desired, it may be forwardly directed in the manner of the operating member 38 of the first form of the invention or it may be otherwise directed and positioned for convenient operation by any finger or thumb of the musicians hand.

With respect to the valve-oiling apparatus of the present invention in any of the-three forms illustrated, or in any of the many other forms functionally equivalent thereto and lying within the broad scope of the present invention, it should be clearly noted that the conventional prior art necessity of unscrewing each valve cap, such as the representative one shown at 66 in FIG. 7, and the necessity of removing the valve plunger 56 from within the casing 54, in order to properly lubricate the entire musical instrument valve, is an antiquated, cumbersome method for lubricating the valves of musical instruments that has not been improved upon since the first use of valves for musical instruments began, dating from the mid-17th century. The valve-oiling apparatus of'the present invention has been invented by a professional musician specializing in valved brass (horns) as both a performer and teacher and has arisen out of the practical need for an improved system for oiling valved musical instruments, andit entirely eliminates and overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional prior art method for lubricating the valves of musical instruments, and this greatly increases the likelihood that either an experienced musician or the merest beginner will properly lubricate the musical instrument valves frequently, particularly during the important initial break-in period to an extent that there is little likelihood of such valves being damaged because of the lack of proper lubrication.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus for conveniently oiling a plurality of musical instrument valves, each including a valve casing and valve cap, a movable valve plunger within the valve casing, and a valve-operating member connected to the valve plunger and extending to a finger-accessible position exterior of the cap, comprising: oil-receiving container means having a filling port means and cover means normally closing and covering said filling port means; digital-member-engageable operating means effectively coupled with respect to said cover means for controllable digital operation for temporarily moving said cover means away from said filling port means so as to temporarily effectively open same for the reception of a desired quantity of lubricating oil thereinto from a manually held and operated oil dispenser; said oilreceiving container means being provided with communication duct means extending therefrom to a plurality of musical instrument valve means for interior lubricating communication therewith.

2. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means comprises a downwardly converging, effectively downwardly inwardly hollow housing provided with communication duct means extending therefrom in a gravity-flow manner to and through the casing means of a plurality of musical instrument valve means into lubricating communication with the interior of said casing means and the exterior of a corresponding digitally operable plunger means slidably positioned within said casing means of each of said musical instrument valve means.

3. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means comprises a downwardly converging, effectively downwardly inwardly hollow housing, said communication duct means comprising a plurality of individual communication duct members corresponding in number to the number of musical instrument valve means to be lubricated and, in each case, extending to the exterior casing means of a corresponding different one of said plurality of musical instrument valve means and therethrough into lubricating communication with the interior of said casing means and the exterior of a corresponding digitally operable plunger means slidably positioned within said casing means of each of said musical instrument valve means.

4. A musical instrumentvalve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with biasing means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.

5. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with biasing spring means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.

6. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with torsional biasing spring means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.

7. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means is positioned immediately adjacent to an assembly of said musical instrument valve means carried by a musical instrument in a conveniently digitally accessible position for manual access by one hand of a musician holding the musical instrument for controllable digital operation of said cover means into open position when desired and for convenient access by the other hand of the musician temporarily manually carrying and operating an oil-containing dispenser means for filling the temporarily open oil-receiving container desired.

means when lubrication of the musical instrument valve means is desired.

8. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said communication duct means are positioned at one side of said assembly of musical instrument valve means and adjacent to the upper ends thereof at a location displaced from the normal position of a holding hand grasping and supporting the musical instrument when it is to be played.

9. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said operating member extends away from said assembly of musical instrument valve means into a convenient digitally accessible position by the hand of a musician normally adapted to grasp, hold, and support the musical instrument for temporary filling-port-opening operation thereof by said grasping, holding, and supporting hand when 10. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means is positioned immediately beyond one end of an assembly of said musical instrument valve means carried by a musical instrument in a conveniently digitally accessible position for manual access by one hand of a musician holding the musical instrument for controllable digital operation of said cover means into open position when desired and for convenient access by the other hand of the musician temporarily manually carrying and operating an oil-containing dispenser means for filling the temporarily open oil-receiving container means when lubrication of the musical instrument valve means is desired. 

1. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus for conveniently oiling a plurality of musical instrument valves, each including a valve casing and valve cap, a movable valve plunger within the valve casing, and a valve-operating member connected to the valve plunger and extending to a finger-accessible position exterior of the cap, comprising: oil-receiving container means having a filling port means and cover means normally closing and covering said filling port means; digital-member-engageable operating means effectively coupled with respect to said cover means for controllable digital operation for temporarily moving said cover means away from said filling port means so as to temporarily effectively open same for the reception of a desired quantity of lubricating oil thereinto from a manually held and operated oil dispenser; said oil-receiving container means being provided with communication duct means extending therefrom to a plurality of musical instrument valve means for interior lubricating communication therewith.
 2. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means comprises a downwardly converging, effectively downwardly inwardly hollow housing provided with communication duct means extending therefrom in a gravity-flow manner to and through the casing means of a plurality of musical instrument valve means into lubricating communication with the interior of said casing means and the exterior of a corresponding digitally operable plunger means slidably positioned within said casing means of each of said musical instrument valve means.
 3. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means comprises a downwardly converging, effectively downwardly inwardly hollow housing, said communication duct means comprising a plurality of individual communication duct members corresponding in number to the number of musical instrument valve means to be lubricated and, in each case, extending to the exterior casing means of a corresponding different one of said plurality of musical instrument valve means and therethrough into lubricating communication with the interior of said casing means and the exterior of a corresponding digitally operable plunger means slidably positioned within said casing means of each of said musical instrument valve means.
 4. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with biasing means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.
 5. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with biasing spring means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.
 6. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means is provided with torsional biasing spring means normally biasing said cover means into closed relationship with respect to said filling port means in a digitally controllably overridable manner in response to digital engagement and forcible movement of said operating means.
 7. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means is positioned immediately adjacent to an assembly of said musical instrument valve means carried by a musical iNstrument in a conveniently digitally accessible position for manual access by one hand of a musician holding the musical instrument for controllable digital operation of said cover means into open position when desired and for convenient access by the other hand of the musician temporarily manually carrying and operating an oil-containing dispenser means for filling the temporarily open oil-receiving container means when lubrication of the musical instrument valve means is desired.
 8. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said communication duct means are positioned at one side of said assembly of musical instrument valve means and adjacent to the upper ends thereof at a location displaced from the normal position of a holding hand grasping and supporting the musical instrument when it is to be played.
 9. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said operating member extends away from said assembly of musical instrument valve means into a convenient digitally accessible position by the hand of a musician normally adapted to grasp, hold, and support the musical instrument for temporary filling-port-opening operation thereof by said grasping, holding, and supporting hand when desired.
 10. A musical instrument valve-oiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil-receiving container means is positioned immediately beyond one end of an assembly of said musical instrument valve means carried by a musical instrument in a conveniently digitally accessible position for manual access by one hand of a musician holding the musical instrument for controllable digital operation of said cover means into open position when desired and for convenient access by the other hand of the musician temporarily manually carrying and operating an oil-containing dispenser means for filling the temporarily open oil-receiving container means when lubrication of the musical instrument valve means is desired. 